Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
Fortune
The bell on Perrae’s door at her salon jangled. All eyes were instantly on me. I was here to see my beauty before I got to work on her property.
“Well, okay. Look who done brought their fine ass back,” one of her stylists stated loudly.
“And he’s here to see me and not none of y’all. Mind ya business,” Perrae voiced saucily.
“That’s what the fuck I’m talkin’ about, boss lady,” her loudmouth employee affirmed.
Perrae shook her head as she floated in my arms. I held her tightly and kissed her head and lips.
“Baby, it’s nice seeing you, but this is an unexpected visit.” She grinned at me as I handed her the flowers and tray of breakfast food.
“I know. I had to make sure my girl was good before I got to work. You got your water bottle?”
Perrae nodded. “You are the sweetest man ever. Thank you for my food and flowers. And yes, I got it, babe.”
“Good girl. Aight, I’ma head out so I can meet my tech guy at your place. My crew should be there already waiting. I’ll keep you updated and teach JJ and the girls how to use the new security system.”
“Aww, thank you, baby. I hate to put all this on you, but I couldn’t reschedule any of my appointments.”
“Stop it. This ain’t too much for me to handle. I got your back. This business needs to be handled. Get back to your clients and let your man do his thing.”
Perrae smiled and kissed my lips. “You are truly a blessing to my life. Thank you so much.”
“No thank you is needed. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you and the kids are both happy and safe. Eat and stay hydrated. I’ll see you later, beautiful.”
“You will definitely see me later. Did I tell you how good you look in your uniform?”
I grinned like a schoolboy. “No, you didn’t, but I’ll take that compliment. You keep buttering me up like that, and one day I’ma stay the night.”
Perrae grinned. “I hope you do. Have a great day, baby.” She sashayed away with my eyes glued to her backside. I didn’t want her to go, but I damn sure enjoyed watching her leave.
I shook my head and left her salon. Perrae had me wrapped around all her damn fingers. I’d never wanted to invade a woman’s space as much as I did hers. She felt like home to me, and I jumped at her every beck and call. I climbed into my work truck and hauled it to her house.
<<<
“Alright, Fortune. All the cameras are installed. Each camera covers the full perimeter of the side it’s facing. Now, there’s no guarantee there aren’t any blind spots, but for the most part, the cameras will pick up everything in the vicinity,” Landon, my tech guy, stated.
“Cool. That sounds good.”
“Great. Follow me back inside.”
I trailed behind him and inside Perrae’s living room.
“This here is the main system. Once this system is set, the other one in the kitchen will automatically be set. All I need is a four-digit password and she’s all good.
“Okay. I can’t make that decision, so let me give Perrae a call,” I affirmed.
“Take your time, man.”
I removed my phone and called Perrae. She happily supplied me with her four-digit preference. I gave it to Landon, and he quickly got to work. It only took him a few minutes, and their security system was set in place.
Once done, he left, and I called the kids down so I could show them how to work the system.
Each of them took turns locking and unlocking their new system.
Afterward, I placed the card with their code and system’s information on Perrae’s table by the front door, then went outside to help my crew with her new privacy fences.
When Perrae called me and told me what Myron had done, I was so damn furious. She had to talk me out of pulling up and whupping that man. All that would’ve done was land in me jail though. I had to use my head.
Up until now, everything he’d done would’ve been her word against his. So, I came up with the idea for the security system, and Perrae wanted privacy fences installed. She didn’t want his ass on her property at all.
I didn’t blame her. His yard was littered with trash and spilling onto the space between their homes. There was a funky smell that floated from his crib.
That nigga was just a nasty ass person. If the outside looked and smelled terrible, I could only imagine what the inside looked like. I’d just staked the single plywood slab for the fence into the small hole when loud shouts took place behind us.
My crew and I turned around at the same time. Myron stumbled out of his home and howled on his porch. He hopped around on his porch in pain.
The more he moved and hopped, it looked as if his distress and pain amplified. I turned and looked up at the sound of JJ’s voice.
“Don’t worry about him. Since Myron ruined the girl’s playground, Mama poured a bag of tacks on his lawn and front porch a couple of days ago. He’ll live,” JJ confessed through his laughter.
I chuckled along with him. “That’s what the hell he gets. Punk ass.” I stuck the plank in the hole.
JJ came and stood beside me. “Is what you’re doing hard, Fortune?”
“Not at all. Would you like for me to show you how to do it?”
JJ grinned. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Okay, come on over.” My heart soared. I knew how hard it was to reach teenagers, but one day, he’d be my stepson. I wanted us to have a decent bond. The fact that JJ had interest in what I did for a living really made my day. We were making some headway.
<<<
Tonight was our first family night. Sadly, JJ couldn’t stay because he’d already made plans with his best friend. The girls ran off hours ago to make dance videos upstairs.
The moment the twins and Madison met, it was a wrap. They were practically sisters now. I’d never heard that much screaming and giggling at once.
One girl was one thing, but three girls sounded as if we were at a school’s pep rally. It was a lot to handle, but it was something I’d definitely grow used to. Perrae walked up and handed me a glass.
“Here you go, love.”
“Thank you, baby.” I took a sip of the wine she handed me. It was so good. I needed that drink after the way those little girls turned me every way but loose.
Perrae took a seat next to me and wiped the makeup from my face and removed the hair clips out of my beard. They all thought it was so funny, including Perrae. I did too.
I wouldn’t want my life any way but how it was now. Perrae’s kids had grown on me, and Madison and Perrae had taken a big liking to each other. That made my heart smile because this thing we had going on looked as if it was actually working.
That wasn’t to say there wouldn’t be any issues, but I liked knowing that we were moving in a good direction and that we’d handle any issues together. Once she was done, she used the acetone and removed the polish from my nails. Perrae was such a kind and caring soul.
“Thank you, baby. I appreciate you.”
She grinned and leaned back against my chest since she was finished. “No worries at all. I know firsthand how hard Tahiri goes when it comes to polish.”
We laughed together. “Yeah, you might be right about that, but she did a great job. Tahiri has a steady hand.”
Perrae chuckled a little more. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She’ll use you as one of her clients every time you come over.”
“Well, let me be quiet then.”
Together, we laughed. I pulled her throw blanket over us, and she snuggled closer to me.
“I just wanna thank you for coming into my life and accepting my kids as well. I know it’s easier maintaining one, but it’s different having to balance three additional kids,” Perrae revealed.
I rubbed up and down her arm. “No thank you is needed. I keep telling you that. It’s what I’m supposed to do. You and your kids are a package deal. I can’t pursue you and say the hell with them. I ain’t built like that.”
Perrae sat up and looked at me. “I get it. I’d accepted the bare minimum and breadcrumbs for so damn long that I’ve accepted that, that’s how every man is. You do deserve a thank you though, Fortune.
“This may be what you want to do, but it’s not what you have to do. You are a great man. Much different than Big J. He ruined my life.
“I won’t go into everything, but he used and abused me. Like you, he was in the streets, too, except he wasn’t running shit. He was a destroyer. Big J was a menace to society.
“He’s locked up now. Serving big time for murder. That was after all the times he gaslit me, lied, cheated, and beat me.
“I learned to fight because I got tired of him hitting me. I’d kick him out then let him back in as soon as he released those crocodile tears. I was so young with such a hard ass life.
“It had got so bad that the kids started to witness our destruction. We had one last blow up, and I shot him. The twins had turned three. He came home drunk and high and ruined the entire party.
“We had an all-out fight. He wouldn’t leave, so I popped him right in his leg. It was then I knew I had to cut all ties with him.
“Two years later, he got locked up for murder. He’ll be in there for the rest of his life. That was the best news I’d received in a long time.
“His arrest really kicked things in gear for me. We moved into a different apartment while on Section 8. When my salon really took off, I knew it was time to put my babies in a real home. A home that we owned. I did just that.
“What I endured from Big J changed a lot of things for me. I’d dated a few times, but I never slept with any of those men. They weren’t worthy. I’d been celibate for four years, and tonight, you’re getting all this pent-up sexual tension.” Perrae’s tone matched the intent in her soft brown eyes.
“You are more than worthy, Fortune. Everything about you is beautiful and worthy to be loved.” I went to speak, but she placed her finger on my lips. “Don’t talk. Just sit back and enjoy.”
“Bu-but what about the kids?” I stuttered when her cold hand reached inside my shorts and grabbed my dick.
“The girls aren’t coming out anymore tonight. Trust me.” Perrae lowered between my legs and pulled my dick all the way out.
My head fell back the moment her mouth made contact with my dick. “Shit,” I cursed. Oh, tonight was about to go way different than I expected.